From Pennsylvania Senate, Pennsylvania House
Photo courtesy of Katherine McAdoo on Unsplash
Transportation chairs from both the Senate and House are warning Pennsylvanians about phishing text messages and email scams impersonating PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, E-ZPass, and other transportation-related agencies. The latest scam alleges to be from the “Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles.”
Senate Transportation Committee Chairs Judy Ward and Marty Flynn, and House Transportation Committee Chairs Ed Neilson and Kerry Benninghoff are urging all Pennsylvania residents to avoid clicking links or giving away personal information from texts or emails that claim to represent transportation agencies in the commonwealth.
“All Pennsylvanians must remain vigilant in the ever-changing environment of scam messages via text and email,” said Senator Judy Ward. “Your safety and security are imperative, which is why I implore you to heed the advice of Commonwealth agencies and law enforcement officers.”
“These messages look official, but they’re nothing more than scams designed to steal your personal and financial information,” said Senator Flynn. “PennDOT does not collect tolls, and legitimate agencies will never ask for payment through unsolicited texts or emails.”
“Residents should be warned to not respond to these messages, avoid opening any links that are attached, and do not respond with personal information,” Neilson said. “These phishing scams are dangerous because they often target vulnerable senior citizens on a tight income who are just trying to do the right thing.”
“These scammers are educated — albeit misguided — individuals who are persistent in their attempt to disrupt the lives of their targets,” said Benninghoff. “The success of their effort is predicated on a lack of knowledge about how these agencies legally communicate with their constituents.”
The fraudulent messages often claim to be from PennDOT, E-ZPass, the PA Turnpike Commission, or other transportation agencies, directing users to click a link and make an urgent payment or face penalties, such as vehicle registration suspensions, driver’s license suspensions, fines, and other penalties. These links lead to phishing websites intended to compromise personal data.
What you should know:
- Do not click any links in texts or emails claiming to be from transportation agencies if you did not initiate the contact.
- To manage your toll account safely, use the official PA Turnpike E-ZPass website or the PA Toll Pay app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
- PennDOT does not collect toll payments.
If you think you’ve been targeted:
- Log in to your E-ZPass or Toll By Plate account to check for suspicious activity.
- Call the PA Turnpike Commission’s Customer Service Center at 877-736-6727, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Do not mail payments unless you have confirmed the request is legitimate through official channels.
- If you clicked a suspicious link or shared sensitive information, take immediate steps to secure your accounts and dispute unfamiliar charges. Scam attempts should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
“Scammers want you to panic and act fast. That’s their game,” Senator Flynn added. “Always take a moment to verify the information. If you are unsure, go directly to a trusted source like the official Turnpike website or app before taking any action.”
“If you are suspicious about any message, email, or phone call you receive,” remarked Neilson, “make sure you err on the side of caution and verify the legitimacy of the call before making a payment, clicking a link, or giving away personal information.”
“Anyone who has fallen victim to one of these scams can tell you how difficult and time-consuming it is to recover and repair your good name, reputation, and credit report,” added Benninghoff. “Time spent validating a request for personal information is a wise investment which could avoid a costly mistake.”
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Source: bctv